The present invention relates to a process for producing a fermented milk soft cheese product comprising the steps of a) Providing a first milk base, b) Optionally subjecting the first milk base to a concentration step to obtain a concentrated first milk base, c) Adding a first starter culture comprising at least one EPS producing lactic acid bacterium strain, d) Fermenting the concentrated first milk base for a period of time until a target pH is reached to obtain an EPS-containing fermented milk composition, e) Mixing the EPS-containing fermented milk composition with one or more other ingredients, if any, selected from the group consisting of a milk fat composition, a second fermented milk composition and one or more additives, to obtain a fermented milk mixture, and f) Subjecting the fermented milk mixture to heat treatment to obtain a fermented milk soft cheese product.

The Lactobacillus curvatus strain deposited as DSM18775 is used as a biopreservative culture in a wide range of meat products due to its production of bacteriocin. The present invention relates to Lactobacillus curvatus strains having an extended lag phase of at least 24 hours at 30° C. relative to DSM18775. In a presently preferred embodiment, the strains are mutants of DSM18775, such as the Lactobacillus curvatus strain deposited as DSM32590 and the Lactobacillus curvatus strain deposited as DSM 32591. Further, the invention relates to a method for inhibiting Listeria in a food product comprising adding bacteria of a Lactobacillus curvatus strain according to the invention to a food product in a concentration of at least 10.sup.5 CFU/g.

The present invention provides a method of controlling growth of unwanted microorganisms by limiting their access to manganese. More specifically, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting or delaying growth of yeast and mold by reducing the manganese concentration in a product which is preferably a food product. The invention also provides manganese scavengers and uses thereof to inhibit or delay fungal growth. The manganese scavenger may be a bacterial cell, specifically a lactic acid bacterial cell, more specifically Lactobacillus rhamnosus alone or in combination with Lactobacillus paracasei.

The present invention relates to the use of at least one lactic acid bacterium, or a composition comprising thereof or conditioned thereby, for increasing or maintaining a Faecalibacterium prausnitzii population.

The invention relates to a method for producing food products from a yoghurt, the method comprising a step of heating the yoghurt with microwaves at a frequency of between 915 and 2375 MHz and at a temperature of between 60 C. and 65 C. for 10 to 15 seconds, a step of draining the microwave-heated yoghurt, a step of pressing the drained yoghurt then a step of adding at least one emulsifying and/or stabilizing and/or gelling ingredient to the pressed yoghurt.

A quark matrix having improved taste characteristics is suggested, which is obtainable by (a) subjecting raw milk to heat treatment, separating the cream, (b) subjecting the skimmed milk such obtained to an ultrafiltration step, a microfiltration step, and/or a reverse osmosis step, producing a high-protein retentate R1 and a high-lactose permeate P1 in the process, (c) enriching the retentate with an amount of lactose which corresponds to the amount that had been separated in the ultrafiltration step as permeate before, (d) subjecting the enrichment product such obtained to heat treatment until denaturation sets in, (e) fermenting the denaturation product such obtained by adding starter cultures and rennet, and (f) adjusting the fermentation product such obtained to defined dry matter and protein contents.

The present invention relates to the field of microbiology, specifically the field of production of a dairy food product using fermentation and the field of gene transfer by conjugation.

The present invention relates to a method for promoting natural tastes and flavors in milk-based products, to a method for manufacturing such milk products and to the products thus made or obtainable by the method.

The present invention relates to the field of microbiology, specifically the field of production of a dairy food product using fermentation and the field of gene transfer by conjugation.

This invention provides an IFN inducer comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria and capable of inducing IFN production, an immunopotentiating agent or prophylactic agent against virus infection comprising such inducer, and a food or drink product comprising such IFN inducer and having IFN-inducing activity, immunopotentiating activity, or prophylactic activity against virus infection. The agent for inducing IFN production comprises, as active ingredients, lactic acid bacteria that can activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and promote IFN production, such as Lactococcus garvieae NBRC100934, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris JCM16167, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris NBRC100676, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM1180, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM11040, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NBRC12007, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NRIC1150, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM5805, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM20101, Leuconostoc lactis NBRC12455, Leuconostoc lactis NRIC1540, Pediococcus damnosus JCM5886, or Streptococcus thermophilus TA-45.